Airffic InspectionThe future guide to drone inspection

REGULATIONS / DE

Germany: drone rules for inspection

Germany applies EU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945 plus geographic zones in LuftVO §21h. Within 100 m of industrial plants, central power generation/distribution facilities and military sites, explicit consent from the operator or authority is needed; within 100 m of motorways, railways and federal waterways, flights are allowed under conditions such as staying lower than the lateral distance and more than 10 m away, or a Specific-category risk assessment. BVLOS inspection needs Specific-category authorisation (STS-02, PDRA, SORA), with competence split between the LBA and Länder authorities, and liability insurance is mandatory.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authority連邦航空局 (LBA)、州航空当局、連邦交通省 (BMV) / Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) for operator registration, remote-pilot exams and certificates, LUCs and the certified category; Länder aviation authorities (Landesluftfahrtbehörden) for Specific-category operating authorisations, supervision of Open-category operations and geographic-zone permits; Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV)
Main frameworkEU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945, supplemented by the Luftverkehrs-Ordnung (LuftVO) §§21a-21k (competences, geographic zones §21h, exceptions §21i, geo-awareness publication §21j, authority exemptions §21k). LuftVO as last amended by Art. 28 of the Act of 18 Dec 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 347). Liability insurance is required by §43 LuftVG.
RegistrationOperators register with the LBA (individuals themselves; companies register the legal entity). Registration thresholds follow EU rules (EASA: required for C1 and above and for 250 g-25 kg legacy drones; for C0/under-250 g only if fitted with a camera/sensor and not a toy). Third-party liability insurance is mandatory under §43 LuftVG; flying uninsured is an administrative offence.
Remote IDEU direct Remote ID applies (EASA states all Open-category drones need remote identification with limited exceptions). LuftVO §21k(3) exempts authorities and security organisations on statutory tasks from fitting add-on direct Remote ID devices. National detail beyond this (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Pilot licensingLBA administers EU competence: A1/A3 'EU-Kompetenznachweis' and A2 'EU-Fernpilotenzeugnis' (§21a), and Specific-category exams/certificates (§21b). The LBA designates exam bodies and recognises practical-training bodies for two-year renewable periods (§21e).
Risk categoriesOpen (A1/A2/A3; A2 30 m from uninvolved persons, 5 m in low-speed mode; A3 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas) / Specific (STS declaration, PDRA or SORA-based operating authorisation) / Certified (LBA).
BVLOSBVLOS is in the Specific category: an STS-02 declaration or an operating authorisation based on PDRA or SORA. Authorisation application needs operations manual, risk assessment (PDRA or SORA) and operating area; fees EUR 200-2,000 (initial), processing 2-24 weeks depending on SAIL, validity 2 years. The federal service description (approved 4 Dec 2023, marked for deletion) splits competence: LBA for operators seated in BY, BE, BB, MV, NW, SL, SN, ST, TH, Land authorities elsewhere, LUC holders always LBA; the current LuftVO §21b(2) assigns operating authorisations to the Land authority of the operator's residence/seat. Confirm the competent office before applying.
Night & over peopleOpen-category subcategory rules from EU law apply. LuftVO has no general national night rule; §21h(3) no.7 bars overflight of residential properties without consent between 22:00 and 06:00 even under its 100 m-height exception. EU green-light requirement for night flights (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Near structuresLuftVO §21h(3) geographic zones relevant to inspection: (no.3) within 100 m laterally of industrial plants, prisons, military sites, central power generation and distribution facilities (grid-connected plants other than decentralised generation under §3(25) EnWG) and BSL-4 labs, flights need explicit consent of the competent authority or facility operator; (no.5) within 100 m of federal motorways, federal waterways and rail installations, flights are allowed if (a) for overflight of motorways/rail the operation is in the Specific category with the risk addressed in the Art. 11 assessment, or (b) the authority/operator consents, or (c) height above ground stays below the lateral distance and the lateral distance stays over 10 m, or (d) for waterways, at least 100 m height, shortest crossing and no overflight of ships, locks, weirs or moorings; (no.10) hospitals 100 m with operator consent; (no.2) airports 1,000 m laterally plus 5 km along extended centrelines, Specific category only; (no.1) other aerodromes 1.5 km; (no.9) control zones need ATC clearance; (no.7) residential properties need owner consent (exceptions for 250 g without recording equipment, or 100 m+ height under strict conditions). Land authorities may grant exceptions (§21i); a geographic-zone permit application needs insurance, competence proof, maps, owner consent and possibly DFS release, with fees EUR 50-3,500 (service approved 21 May 2025). Zones are published for geo-awareness (§21j) but apply even if unpublished.
Indoor & confinedLuftVO §§21a-21k contain no provisions on flights inside buildings. Whether EU rules apply indoors (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Imaging & privacyLuftVO §21h(3) no.7 protects residential properties (consent, or strict conditions including prior notification and protection of privacy). GDPR/BDSG apply to imagery (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Recent changesLuftVO amended most recently by Art. 28 of the Act of 18 Dec 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 347); the content of that amendment was not read (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22). 21 May 2025: federal service description for geographic-zone permits approved. Earlier: 1 Jan 2024 end of EU Open-category transition (EASA).

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22